Rapid change radius punch for press brake

ABSTRACT

An adapter tool having an attachment section, a body, and a connector. The body is attached to the attachment section and has a punch seat and a clamping space. The connector has a clamping plate that can rotate in relation to the body. The clamping place has an engagement member configured to engage a punch insert. The connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the engagement member is a first distance from the punch seat. In the second position, at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, and the engagement member is located a second distance from the punch seat the connector to the body. The biasing member biases the connector to the first position. The first distance is less than the second distance.

BACKGROUND

In the use of a press brake, often the punch must be changed due to desire or replacement. Often, there are typically many punches that are spaced, and each takes time to change. Further, changing the punches requires skill that is not necessarily required for an operator, thus increasing the time and complexity for a punch exchange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an adapter tool.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an adapter tool in an exploded view.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an attachment section, a body, and a punch insert in an exploded view.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an adapter tool.

FIG. 5 shows a profile embodiment of an adapter tool.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an adapter tool.

FIGS. 7-9 shows an embodiment of an adapter tool replacing a punch insert.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of an adapter tool in use with a press brake.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether integral with, directly attached, or indirectly attached through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like.

The present disclosure is described in relation to a punch press; however, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to a punch press. Further, while the description is focused on a European Style AMADA One-Touch System, it is understood that the adapter tool 100 can be configured to work with other systems such as WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change (ATC), and Bolt Change type of systems. These systems are well known to those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of adapter tool 100. The adapter tool 100 comprises an attachment section 1, a body 4, a connector 3, and a punch insert 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an adapter tool 100 in an exploded view.

In some embodiments, the attachment section 1 comprises a safety groove 18, a tang 16, punch shoulder 17, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the connector 3 comprises a clamping plate 30, a biasing member 35, one or more biasing member guides 33, a hinge pin 303, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the hinge pin 303 extends through the hinge pinhole 44, and in other embodiments, the hinge pin 303 may be internal and/or integral with the body 4. In some embodiments, the one or more biasing member guides 33 are threaded elements, projections, screws, pins, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the clamping plate 30 comprises a hinge 301, an engagement member 302, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the hinge 301 is coupled to the body 4. In some embodiments, the biasing member 35 is a coil spring. In some embodiments, a hinge 301 is not employed, but the connector 3 is in rotational attachment to the body 4. In some embodiments, multiple hinges 301 are employed.

In some embodiments, the punch insert 2 comprises a punch locking groove 22, a punch attachment 23, a punch ledge 21, a punch abutment 29, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the punch ledge 21 will abut the projection 43 and help transmit force from the adapter tool 100 to the punch insert 2. In some embodiments, the center of punch shoulder 17 is aligned with the center punch seat 42, punch insert 2, or a combination thereof. This would allow force from the adapter tool 100, applied to the shoulder 17, to be directly applied to the punch insert 2, an minimize torque. In some embodiments, the punch ledge 21 cooperates with the connector 3, as a counter point, to help secure the punch insert 2. In some embodiments, the projection 43 extends further down (in reference to the drawings) that the connector 3 and/or the punch locking groove 22. In some embodiments, the projection 43 and the body base 40 define a slit that increases the spring action of the projection 43. In some embodiments, the punch seat 42 is configured to accept the punch attachment 23 inside. While the punch attachment 23 is shown to have a substantially triangle-like shape, it is to be understood that the punch attachment 23 and the punch seat 42 can define any shape that allows for the acceptance and transmission of force can be used. In some embodiments, the punch attachment 23 and the punch seat 42 can define a rectangle-like shape.

The same is to be said of the punch locking groove 22 and the engagement member 302. While shown to have differing shapes, in some embodiments, they have corresponding shapes. In some embodiments, the locking groove 22 and the engagement member 302 can define any geometric shape, same or differing, as long as the engagement member 302 is able to engage the punch locking groove 22 to assist in securing the punch insert 2. In some embodiments, there is no engagement member 302 and/or locking groove 22 the punch insert 2 is secured by the connector 3 with an interference fit.

In some embodiments, the body 4 comprises a body base 40, a projection 43, defines a punch seat 42, defines a hinge pinhole 44, defines a clamping plate space 45, or combinations thereof.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the body 4 defines one or more biasing member spaces 465, a hinge space 47, a hinge pin space 48, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, there will be multiple hinge spaces 47.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the adapter tool 100.

FIG. 5 shows a profile view of an adapter tool 100.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an adapter tool 100 along the line shown in FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, the body 4 further defines one or more biasing member spaces 465, which at least partially houses the biasing member 35 inside thereof.

FIGS. 7-9 show an embodiment of the adapter tool 100 with multiple punch inserts 2 (e.g., a punch insert, a second punch insert, a third punch insert . . . ). The connector 3 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The biasing member 35 biases the connector 3 to the first position. In the first position, the engagement member 302 is engaged in the punch locking groove 22 when a punch is present. In some embodiments, once the punch insert 2 is secured, the clamping plate 30 will be located outside the clamping plate space 45 when in the first position.

In some embodiments, the clamping plate 30 is actuated against the force of the biasing member 35 significantly enough to allow for the removal and/or insert of the punch insert 2 to arrive at the second position. In some embodiments, a punch insert 2 can be inserted by actuating the clamping plate 30 and inserting the punch attachment 23 into the punch seat 42 to arrive at the second position. Once the engagement member 302 and the punch locking groove 22 are aligned, the clamping plate 30 is free to move to the first position by the force of the biasing member 35 to secure the punch insert 2.

In some embodiments, the clamping plate 30 will rotate about the hinge 301 to the second position such that it is at least partially inside the clamping plate space 45, and the projection 43 will disengage the punch locking groove 22, allowing for removal of the punch insert 2.

In some embodiments, in the first position, the engagement member 302 is located a first distance from the punch seat 42, and in the second position, the engagement member 302 is a second distance from the punch seat 42. In some embodiments, the second distance is greater than the first distance.

As seen in FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, the punch insert 2 can be pushed into the punch seat 42. In some embodiments, the punch attachment 23 corresponds exactly to the punch seat 42 or substantially corresponds to the punch seat 42.

It is understood many punch inserts 2, having many different shapes or same-shaped punch abutments 29 can be provided. The ability to quickly switch out punch insert 2 allows users to save a great deal of time. While the adapter tool 100 provides for ease of changing punch inserts 2 in commonly used press brake 7 machines (e.g., European Style AMADA One-Touch System, WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change [ATC] and Bolt Change), the adapter tool 100 still provides for a stable means to apply force.

Some embodiments of the punch insert 2 possess the benefit in that there are no bolt holes or hardware required for attachment. The punch inserts 2 are able to connect based upon their shape. The prior art requires mounting holes and/or mounting hardware to form the attachment. When these items are necessary, an entirely higher level of precision is also required in both manufacturing and installation. Just the proper alignment of holes introduces another level of precision that must be accomplished in both manufacturing and for every punch change. The same can be said for the use of hardware for attachment. The geometry of the punch insert 2 (e.g., punch locking groove 22, punch attachment 23) and how it interacts with the body 4 (e.g., punch seat 42, projection 43, clamping plate 30) and the connector 3 to allow for self-seating and/or self-alignment.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of adapter tool 100 for use with a press brake 7. The press brake 7 comprises a die 73, an actuation arm 71, and a press brake attachment 72. In some embodiments, the adapter tool 100 is coupled to the press brake attachment 72 and aligned with the die 73. The press brake 7 is configured to move from a press brake first position to a press brake second position by movement of the actuation arm 71. In the press brake first position, the punch insert 2 is a distance away from the die 73. In the press brake second position, the punch insert 2 forces an item to abut the die 73. In some embodiments, the press brake 7 will cause an item, such as a sheet of metal to bend, be cut, and/or make a hole in the item.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.

It should also be noted that elements of embodiments may be described in reference to the description of a particular embodiment; however, it is disclosed that elements of disclosed embodiments can be switched with corresponding elements of embodiments with the same name and/or number of other disclosed embodiments.

Depending on the embodiment, certain steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an adapter tool comprising: an attachment section; a body, coupled to the attachment section, comprising a punch seat and defines a clamping plate space; and a connector comprising a clamping plate in rotational attachment with the body; and the clamping plate comprises an engagement member; wherein a hinge couples the connector to the body and the connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position; in the second position, at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, and the engagement member is located a second distance from the punch seat; in the first position, the engagement member is a first distance from the punch seat, and the first distance is less than the second distance; and a biasing member biases the connector to the first position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping plate comprises the hinge, and the body defines a hinge pinhole, and a hinge pin extends through the hinge pinhole and the hinge.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is located inside the clamping plate space.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body defines a punch shoulder, and the punch shoulder is aligned with the punch seat.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a punch insert, wherein the punch insert comprises a punch attachment and a punch abutment and defines a punch locking groove; wherein the punch insert is located inside the body and abuts the punch seat, and the engagement member engages the punch locking groove to secure the punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the punch insert defines a punch ledge, the body further comprises a projection, and the projection abuts the punch ledge.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the punch insert corresponds to the punch seat.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second punch insert, wherein the second punch insert comprises a second punch attachment and a second punch abutment, and defines a second punch locking groove; the second punch insert is configured to be located inside the body and to abut the punch seat, and the engagement member is configured engages the second punch locking groove to secure the second punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein in the second position, the engagement member is disengaged from the punch locking groove, and the punch insert is free to be removed from the punch seat.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a press brake, and the press brake comprises a press brake attachment and a die, and the attachment section is coupled to the press brake attachment, and the punch seat is aligned with the die.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the attachment section is configured to be secured to the press brake attachment, and the press brake attachment is selected from the group consisting of European Style AMADA One-Touch System, WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change, and Bolt Change.
 12. An apparatus comprising: a press brake comprising: a die; an actuation arm; an adapter tool comprising: an attachment section coupled to the actuation arm; a body, coupled to the attachment section, comprising a punch seat and defines a clamping plate space; a connector comprising a clamping plate in rotational attachment with the body; and the clamping plate comprises an engagement member; and a punch insert, coupled to the adapter tool and aligned with the die, defining a punch locking groove and comprising a punch attachment and a punch abutment; wherein the die is aligned with the punch insert; the connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position; a hinge couples the connector to the body and a biasing member biases the connector to the first position; in the first position, the engagement member engages the punch locking groove; and in the second position at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, the engagement member is disengaged from the punch locking groove, and the punch insert is able to be removed from the punch seat.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the actuation arm comprises a press brake attachment that is coupled to the attachment section, and the press brake attachment is selected from the group consisting of European Style AMADA One-Touch System, WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change, and Bolt Change.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the clamping plate comprises the hinge, and the body defines a hinge pinhole, and a hinge pin extends through the hinge pinhole and the hinge.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the punch insert defines a punch ledge, the body further comprises a projection, and the projection abuts the punch ledge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second punch insert, wherein the punch insert comprises a second punch attachment and a second punch abutment and defines a second punch locking groove; wherein the second punch insert is configured to be located inside the body and to abut the punch seat, and the engagement member is configured engages the second punch locking groove to secure the second punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the press brake is configured to move from a press brake first position to a press brake second position; in the press brake first position, the punch insert is a distance away from the die, and in the press brake second position, the punch insert forces an item to abut the die. 